Robben Island

We were in Cape Town, South Africa for a mission presidency seminar the end of Sept.

This is the ferry to the left that we borded to see Robben Island. From 1866-1921 it was a convict prison. Then during WWII it was a learning and defense station.

From 1846-1931 it was a hospital also for those with leprosy and mentally and chronically ill patients.

This is the quarry where prisoners worked all day. It was almost blinding in the sun and did much damage to the prisoners eyes,

Only one prisoner ever escaped from the island.

All the guides in Robben Island were previous inmates in the prison. It was quite the experience to have them share what it was like to live here. Robben Island is known for the place where Nelson Mandella was imprisoned.  This was his cell. From 1961-1991 the facility was a maximum security prison for political prisoners.  It became a museum in 1997.

Is it red and white stripes or white and red stripes?

 Try to envision two black bars. I told the hospital administration when we were there in Aug. for Helping Hands that one day I would be back and their black bars would be painted the red and white they had been many years before.

The guards were wonderful and we had good conversations over the course of 2 days. They tried to help keep the people away from me as well as the cars and trucks when I was painting  the other gate.

This is the view from across the way. I was going to use spray paint, but it kept being windy. I began by painting the bars all white. Then with masking tape I added the red. It wasn't perfect but looked much better than before. I asked some of the young boys walking by to help pick up trash. They did. Then I asked them if they were visiting people in the hospital. They said, "No, we are patients being treated for flu." I apologized and told them to not pick up the trash any more.  I had a lot of people stop and look. One lady asked me if I had a work permit to to the painting. Everyone has to have a permit to work. I told her volunteers didn't need work permits. Boy! I actually did have permission however. A painter came by looking for a job. I told him he was welcome, but that it was a free job. Another person asked me if our church taught people how to paint. Namibia is all about getting a job. The unemployment rate is 50% but in the age group from 18-30 it is 80%.

There was another gate at a different entrance. Doug said, "Don't volunteer."

New Sights in Namibia

Did you guess that this was a WART HOG crossing? Great job if you did. This is on the way to and from the airport.

This is one of my other favorite signs. L stands for learning to drive. I think it would be great to know who to watch out for. We should put L on all the TAXI drivers. They pass on the left, on the right, and pull in front of you when you make a left or right turn if you are too slow. I wonder what kind of drivers we will be in the states.